1921: HONORING MR. REMO

There is something about Chambersburg and the Italian experience that spurs me on for more and more information on that community. The above photo pictures many of Trenton Italian Americans who made an indelible mark on the local history of a remarkable people. Today we are hearing much about Spanish as a second language. When these people came to America, the custom was to go to night school and learn the English language. Many of them did indeed learn the language and went on to be very productive citizens. Just look at some of the surnames in the photo. Many of those in the photo went to back breaking jobs at Roebling, the railroad, or slave like labor on the roads and highways. However, they found the time to work those grueling day jobs and assist in building St. Joachim's Church; the jewel of Chambersburg.

RALPH LUCARELLA said...

HI TOM....I WAS LUCKY TO LIVE IN CHAMBERSBURG AT A TIME WHEN EVERYONE TREATED EACHOTHER LIKE FAMILY. WE HELPED EACHOTHER, PLAYED AND TOLD EVERYONE OUR PROBLEMS, NEVER LOCKED OUR DOORS AND WERE IN AND OUT EACHOTHER'S HOUSES CONSTANTLY. ST. JOACHIMS WAS THE CENTER OF RELEGION FOR ALMOST EVERYONE AND WE ALWAYS LOOKED FORWARD TO THE FEAST OF LIGHTS ON BUTLER ST. I CONSTANTLY RECALL ALL THESE THINGS AND THINK HOW MUCH BETTER WE HAD IT IN THOSE DAYS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Thursday, June 06, 2013

RALPH LUCARELLA said...

I MIGHT ADD...MANY YEARS LATTER, WHEN I WORKED THE BURG AS A LETTER CARRIER, THEY WOULD ASK IN ITALIAN "ARE YOU LIZZIE'S SON". THEY REMEMBERED OUR STORE AT 123 MOTT ST.

 

Thursday, June 06, 2013

JoeB said...

Tom:
My parents and like most of all Grandparents that came to this country to work and improve themselves. Today there are many that receive assistance for free and when your get something for nothing you don't appreciate it. I believe that doing Community Work in return would go along way towards repaying for what you get.

 

Thursday, June 06, 2013

Tom Glover said...

YOU TWO GUYS ARE RIGHT ON TARGET. OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WAS ALSO A FRIENDLY FRONT PORCH NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE EVERY BODY KNEW EVERYBODY ELSE AND WE ALL RUSHED TO HELP ANY FAMILY IN TROUBLE.

 

Thursday, June 06, 2013

RALPH LUCARELLA said...

TO JOEB.....YOU BETTER BELIEVE, I'M TALKING ABOUT AN ERA WHEN THERE WERE NO FREE STUFF. NO FOOD STAMPS, NO WELLFARE, NOTHING FREE. EVERYONE WORKED THEIR BUTT OFF TO HELP FEED THEIR FAMILY AND THAT INCLUDED STREET CLEANING, HEAVY ROAD WORK, FACTORIES THAT PAID PEOPLE 18 CENTS AN HOUR, LIKE I GOT FOR WORKING AT STAR PORCELINE. GIRLS GOT 10 CENTS AN HOUR AT BAYER ASPERIN. MY GRANDFATHER GOT LAID OFF FROM ROEBLINGS RIGHT BEFORE BEING READY TO RETIRE. DON'T GIVE PEOPLE THE IMPRESSION OF GETTING ANY THING FREE DURING THAT TIME IN THIS COUNTRY. THANKS FOR COMMENTING.

 

Thursday, June 06, 2013

RALPH LUCARELLA said...

HI TOM....I WAS LUCKY TO LIVE IN CHAMBERSBURG AT A TIME WHEN EVERYONE TREATED EACHOTHER LIKE FAMILY. WE HELPED EACHOTHER, PLAYED AND TOLD EVERYONE OUR PROBLEMS, NEVER LOCKED OUR DOORS AND WERE IN AND OUT EACHOTHER'S HOUSES CONSTANTLY. ST. JOACHIMS WAS THE CENTER OF RELEGION FOR ALMOST EVERYONE AND WE ALWAYS LOOKED FORWARD TO THE FEAST OF LIGHTS ON BUTLER ST. I CONSTANTLY RECALL ALL THESE THINGS AND THINK HOW MUCH BETTER WE HAD IT IN THOSE DAYS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Thursday, June 06, 2013

RALPH LUCARELLA said...

I MIGHT ADD...MANY YEARS LATTER, WHEN I WORKED THE BURG AS A LETTER CARRIER, THEY WOULD ASK IN ITALIAN "ARE YOU LIZZIE'S SON". THEY REMEMBERED OUR STORE AT 123 MOTT ST.

 

Thursday, June 06, 2013

JoeB said...

Tom:
My parents and like most of all Grandparents that came to this country to work and improve themselves. Today there are many that receive assistance for free and when your get something for nothing you don't appreciate it. I believe that doing Community Work in return would go along way towards repaying for what you get.

 

Thursday, June 06, 2013

Tom Glover said...

YOU TWO GUYS ARE RIGHT ON TARGET. OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WAS ALSO A FRIENDLY FRONT PORCH NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE EVERY BODY KNEW EVERYBODY ELSE AND WE ALL RUSHED TO HELP ANY FAMILY IN TROUBLE.

Thursday, June 06, 2013

RALPH LUCARELLA said...

TO JOE B.....YOU BETTER BELIEVE, I'M TALKING ABOUT AN ERA WHEN THERE WERE NO FREE STUFF. NO FOOD STAMPS, NO WELLFARE, NOTHING FREE. EVERYONE WORKED THEIR BUTT OFF TO HELP FEED THEIR FAMILY AND THAT INCLUDED STREET CLEANING, HEAVY ROAD WORK, FACTORIES THAT PAID PEOPLE 18 CENTS AN HOUR, LIKE I GOT FOR WORKING AT STAR PORCELINE. GIRLS GOT 10 CENTS AN HOUR AT BAYER ASPERIN. MY GRANDFATHER GOT LAID OFF FROM ROEBLINGS RIGHT BEFORE BEING READY TO RETIRE. DON'T GIVE PEOPLE THE IMPRESSION OF GETTING ANY THING FREE DURING THAT TIME IN THIS COUNTRY. THANKS FOR COMMENTING.

Thursday, June 06, 2013

1894: COMMUNITY UNITES TO HELP POOR ITALIAN IMMIGRANTS

Wouldn't it be wonderful if all immigrants formed an organization to assist the more downtrodden and poor Italian immigrants learn our language and customs through a library type environment with assistance from those who are more established and fluent in English. Many of the Italians who came to Trenton in the latter 18th and early 19th centuries worked at back breaking day jobs and took the time to attend English language classes at night.

Ron Bound said...

Tom, what a great writeup, and how great to see them want to make things better for others. If only it were that way today.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Bob Chianese said...

You should notice though that the are fighting over the characterization of Italians by one of their own--the new Club is on the ropes with the first announcement of good intentions!

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

1941: SALVATORE SCARDONE SCARES TRENTONIANS

I received the email below from Betsy (Salvatore) Cole. She included a few news clippings detailing a scare which Salvatore Scardone caused when he set off professional fireworks in the back yard of a Franklin area tavern. The article above is a reformatted copy of Betsy's email to me. Further research in my files found the article where Salvatore Scardone faced a judge, along with very prominent friends, including Richard Hughes. Thanks for the email Betsy and the article which I had to reformat due to the length of the original you sent in color. Betsy wrote:

Dear Mr Glover

My father Arthur A " Sarky" Salvatore was best man in his friend Anthony "Gigi" Chianese's wedding at St Joachim's church on January 15 1941. He would later become a Superior Court Judge but then was just a young lawyer. As a surprise gift for "Gigi", Salvatore Scardone ( yes the one who did most of Trenton's fireworks) set off a fireworks display in the yard of the at cafe on Franklin Street where the reception was being held. The explosions scared people all over the city. After the police took Mr Scardone away my Dad , morning coat and all, had to go to the jail to bail him out. Where else but in the " Burg" would there be a reception like that?

Betsy Salvatore Cole

RALPH LUCARELLA said...

HI TOM.....AS A KID I WAS SCARED TO DEATH WHEN SCARDONE SHOT OFF HIS FIREWORKS ON BUTLER STREET DURING THE FEAST OF LIGHTS IN THE 20'S. LATER I WAS TOLD ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL COMPLAINED THE NOISE WAS EFFECTING THE PATIENTS. BEST REGARDS.

Friday, July 27, 2012

Anonymous said...

Tom:

I went to Jr.4 with the professor's son, Salvatore Jr. and Daughter Thresa. Back than we call the Professor "Boom Boom Scardone"

Sarky Salvatore noted as the best man at the wedding, and bail bonder for the "culprit" was without a doubt one of the all time nice guys I ever met, and lunched with. In addition, Sarky was a fabulus story teller.

It ir is interesting to note that hia long time friend and ultimate law partner Governor Dick Hughes accompanied Sarky to defend Boom Boom for his failure to get a permit. That was a time, when a friend was a real friend, and not in name only.

The Scardone Company never failed to electrify the skis over Trenton on the fourt of July.

Warm and happy regards to all of my old Trenton friends.

Mike Kuzma
Late of Ringoes, now of Virginia, but still a Trentonian!!!

Friday, July 27, 2012

Anonymous said...

Mike,do you remember the place in Ringoes, "The Carousel", they made a decent pie 20 years ago and I finally asked the owner who commented that he hired an old Trenton pie maker when he started the business. The "pies" have changed with ownership sadly.

I was originally going to comment on another "boom" that had Hamilton residents out by the old Thermoid company all upset some 15 years ago. It seems one of the "lads" over at the J. Seward Johnson Atelier cast a full size cannon and after a few celebratory nips fired it off. Aside from the noise, it went through the roof and into the kitchen of a little old lady.

Ed Millerick

Friday, July 27, 2012

Lee Belardino said...

Tommy
Mr Scardone lived 2 ndoors down from my grandfathers house on Mott street. One of his sons,Joey (tarp)
Scardone was my boyhood pal and together with Mike Ricetlli,JOHNNY Chiaccio,and James Chianese comprised the Mott Street gang.8-9 year olds hanging around the railyards off of broad street and getting chashed out by the railroad cops. Tarp got that nickname by falling into asphalt. Mr Scardone limped from an accident with fireworks. 4th of July fireworks at Cawalder park and Scardone. Memories of Trenton and the burg in the late 30's and 40's.Lee

Friday, July 27, 2012

Anonymous said...

Ed Millerick:

Re: Rinoges

I restored my first 250 year old farm house in Ringoes (East Amwell Twp) in 1978.
At that time the Carousel was known as "Stoop's Country Store"
Mrs. Stoop got too friendly with one of the male customers, and Mr. Stoop quickly sold the store to a working railroader, John and his wife, and it became the Carousel. They hired two twin brothers who did all the cooking and baking. After ten years, John sold out to an Itialian fellow from Unon County, who kept the boys on to run the place. Didn't know that they were from Trenton, had they been, I surely would have been told about it.
This past year, I called the Carousel, to buy the Cookies I used for clients, the guy anwering the phone's dialect made me realize that another immigrent family has moved into the convienence store business.

Sadly things change.

Best wishes

Mike Kuzma

Friday, July 27, 2012

1970: TONY CARABELLI: MERCER COUNTY FREEHOLDER

Tony, I should have titled this, "Portrait of a Young Man!" This graphic has been saved for posterity in the "AMERICAN-ITALIAN" folder in the Hamilton Township Public Library's Local History Collection. Where did the time go? Forty one years ago! Tony is an old friend, and native Trentonian who has been an active advocate for Mercer County citizens for 40+ years. Tony also served the citizens of Trenton as a Councilman "back in the day."